This is my first posting, although I've been fortunate to get some great information by visiting this site as a guest in the past. Now, however, I'm having a hard time figuring out what's up with my knee, so any ideas would be very appreciated!

I had an ACL reconstruction on my left knee 2 1/2 years ago using patellar ligament autograft. Right from the start post-op the knee didn't feel right, and 2 years later, after getting no help from the original surgeon, I sourced a surgeon I feel absolutely great about. My patella was pretty locked down laterally, but tracking was good, so he felt I was one of those rare candidates for a lateral release. Release and scar clean-up was done arthroscopically 10 weeks ago.

I started off my recovery well, gaining full flexion and extension early, but I've since had some set-backs. The one that kind of boggles my mind and worries me is that just under the medial incision I have a hard knot of tissue. This lump isn't connected to the skin at all - the topical scar fine. However, the lump is positioned exactly where that initial swelling was post-op. It feels as if it's connected to the bone or something; it's hard, very tender to the touch, and often hurts a great deal when I walk. My p.t. has worked it, used ultrasound, etc., but it's not getting any smaller. In fact, manual manipulation tends to exacerbate symptoms. I'm beginning to wonder about calcification or even ossification.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice as to some meaningful questions and/or ideas I can throw my surgeon's way? (I'll be seeing him soon) I'm hoping I'm not headed for more surgical intervention!!!!!

I actually am having the same type symptoms. I have a large lump just below the inital incision from 2 years ago. It is about the size of a golf ball and showed up out of nowhere. I had an infection it in and it was very hard. I have had several CT scans last week and am awaiting the results. But the radiologist said it was very active in there. I will let you know if I get any insight about it. I am very nervous about it tooand it has me very perplexed.

hey this is my first posting on here. I had knee arthroscopy almost 9 weeks ago now to remove medial , supra-patellar and infra-patellar plicas. The rest of the knee is fine - no arthritis or anything. Anyway, now I have the same thing as you guys - hard lump under the medial portal, which is gettin very painful if i walk / cycle much. Im swimming a lot which is ok, except if i overdo it. Just wondering how you 2 got on? Did the lump shrink and how are you doing painwise now? How long did recovery take?Please please write back!!E

This is also my first post and though I'm so sorry you are going through this, I'm a bit relieved to hear that someone is having a similiar issue. I had a knee scope about 16 weeks ago now- fat pad and some synovial tissue removed, and chondramalacia on medial femoral condyle and under the patella. I've had a heck of time recovering, partly because I tried 3 months of conservative treatment before surgery (and unfortunately lost a ton of muscle, which I still haven't gained back), and like you, the main thing holding me back from progressing at PT (and in life in general) is this gummy lump under my medial portal. It started off after surgery being extremely hard/swollen/tender, and I could barely flex/tighten my knee muscles/tendons (like to do knee push-downs) without so much pain because of the lump. Over the course of the last 3 months my PT has tried Ultrasound, aggressive massage (which caused a great deal of bleeding, which then caused more tenderness, which then I have to wonder if that caused more scarring...), and I've used the diclofenac gels, anti-inflam meds- you name it!

I feel like if this lump under the portal was gone, I'd be able to move forward, but it doesn't necessarily make sense to have another scope , i.e. make more holes that will need to heal and could create the same exact problem. I've gotten 3 "second opinions" now, because it just seems ridiculous that a healthy 28 year old woman would still be in this much pain and feel like I haev so far to go, 3 months post-op. Did I mention my other knee is now in pain from taking on so much added stress?? :C They have each told me that though it is not the typical result, that they have seen this before and that I will just have to keep busting my butt at PT, but all of this has me wondering and getting paranoid if there is something I'm missing...(connective tissue disorder? autoimmune issue? or does scar tissue reallly take this long?)

If the lump is bound down to the patella and it is affecting your ROM or extension and seems to be getting worse, it sounds like you have arthrofibrosis and that your should switch fro your doctor and therapist to one of the few arthrofibrosis specialists.